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THREE

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As soon as I turned, I almost ran straight into her—Daniela. Of all people. She stood right there, looking at me like I was just another face in the crowd. She looked... different. Beautiful, even. Alive.

For a second, I didn’t know what to say, not that there was ever much to say between us growing up. We didn’t talk, not really. In fact, we barely exchanged words at all. I’d see her around, mostly in passing, usually when she dragged herself down for dinner just to sit there and not eat. But even then, there was something about her. Not in the way you’d normally notice someone, but in how she wasn’t—like she was there but never really present. Like her mind was somewhere else, somewhere darker.

I always wondered about that, but I never dared to ask Miguel. It wasn’t my place.

But the girl standing in front of me now… she wasn’t the same Daniela. She wasn’t that distant, quiet shadow who’d avoid her parents, who kept everything locked behind those blank, dark eyes. There was something behind them tonight—something bright, something alive. She looked at me, and it was like she actually saw me this time.

And damn, she was beautiful.

“Daniela,” I said, her name slipping from my mouth before I could even think. “You look… good.” It felt awkward saying it, but it was true. She did.

She gave me a small smile, one that felt real, and I couldn't help but smile back.

Whatever changed in her, I was glad. I didn't know what it was, but it was like she'd found something—or maybe let something go. Either way, I was happy for her.

I barely had time to wrap my head around seeing Daniela when I spotted her—Lila. My ex. The one I should’ve stayed far away from.

We hadn’t dated long, just six months, but that was long enough for me to realize she wasn’t what I wanted. She was all charm and looks on the outside, and yeah, that’s what sucked me in at first. That face, that smile—she knew how to work it, how to make you think she was perfect. But beneath it? Different story.

I broke it off, thought that was the end of it. I mean, she wasn’t happy, of course—she was fuming. Lila wasn’t the type to get dumped and just walk away. But a month later, we started hooking up again. That was it, though. I made it clear—no feelings, just sex. I didn’t want anything more, and I thought she got that.

But then she started acting crazy. No, not crazy—psychotic. She always seemed to know where I was. If I went out, she’d somehow be there, "coincidentally" showing up wherever I happened to be. And if I so much as talked to another girl? Lila would ruin it, every single time. She’d spread rumors, start fights, do whatever she could to make sure no one got close to me.

It was suffocating.

I couldn’t believe I’d been dumb enough to get involved with her. Roped in by a pretty face, a nice smile. My first mistake—and probably my worst one, too.

She saw me now, her eyes locking onto me like she’d been waiting. Great. Just what I needed tonight.

I saw her before she saw me, and my first instinct was to turn around and walk the other way, avoid the whole thing. But of course, Lila wasn’t the type to let that happen.

“Gio!” she called out, and before I knew it, she was running toward me, throwing her arms around me in this way that made it look like we were still… something.

I didn’t hug her back. I couldn’t. My body was stiff, my mind already racing with how to get out of this situation. I didn’t want to be here, didn’t want to deal with her.